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-------- Original Message --------
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Subject: </th>
<td>[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Cosatu crits WSF for Morocco venue</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Date: </th>
<td>Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:45:49 +0200</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">From: </th>
<td>Patrick Bond <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:pbond@mail.ngo.za"><pbond@mail.ngo.za></a></td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Reply-To: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:pbond@mail.ngo.za">pbond@mail.ngo.za</a>, "debate: SA discussion list "
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:debate@debate.kabissa.org"><debate@debate.kabissa.org></a></td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">To: </th>
<td>debate: SA discussion list <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:debate@debate.kabissa.org"><debate@debate.kabissa.org></a></td>
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<pre>(Good call, Cosatu comrades!)
COSATU
CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONS
Head Office
1-5 Leyds Street
Braamfontein
JOHANNESBURG
P O Box 1019
JOHANNESBURG
2000
Tel: + 27 + 11 + 339-4911 /24
Fax: + 27 + 11 + 339-5080 / 6940
E-mail: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:cosatu@wn.apc.org">cosatu@wn.apc.org</a>
Internet: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.cosatu.org.za">http://www.cosatu.org.za</a>
Members of Liaison Group 17th March, 2009
International Council
World Social Forum
Dear Comrades,
Next International Council meeting in Morocco and why COSATU will not
participate
COSATU notes your decision to delegate Wilhemina to find out if we shall
be participating in the coming IC meeting in Morocco.
It shall be recalled that the IC had previously debated the issue of
which country should host the WSF 2007, wherein Morocco was proposed by
some and COSATU vehemently opposed it. We thought that the IC
appreciated the principled basis of our objection. We are disappointed
to realise that this is not the case, as later the same issue was
discussed and decided much against that principle.
At the previous IC meeting in Belem, Brazil, COSATU could only attend
the meeting on the first 1 and half days, thus missing the session
during which the issue of the venue for the next IC was decided. Once
again, COSATU wish to register that, it would still have vehemently
objected to Morocco being chosen as the venue for such an important
platform of the global progressive movement, given its policies and
occupation of Western Sahara.
We wish to hereby reiterate our stand on this matter. We are opposed to
occupation, apartheid and injustice against anyone, anywhere in the
world, hence our principled objection in this case. We, the workers and
people of South Africa, have ourselves, emerged from years of apartheid
and occupation by a viciously racist regime. In this case, we understand
very well the pains and suffering of all who are victims of such
practices. This is exactly what informs our principled and consistently
vocal stand against Israeli occupation of Palestine and our unwavering
solidarity with the suffering people of Palestine. We assume this is the
very reason why almost all members of the IC are in full solidarity with
the people of Palestine too, including social movements from Israel too.
Consistent with this position and principle, COSATU is failing to
understand why it cannot apply to the occupied people of Western Sahara,
who also deserve justice and solidarity like all of us and from all of us.
Why should we allow an event of such magnitude and standing in the
global family of compatriots to be hosted by a country that brutally
occupies another, subjecting the peoples of Western Sahara to the most
extreme forms of subjugation and dehumanisation, in the same way that
apartheid South Africa was doing. To illustrate this further, Morocco,
is not even a member of the African union, because the AU recognises the
sovereignty of Western Sahara as a country, while Morocco does not.
It would be a shame for anyone claiming to be progressive to associate
in any way with such a regime, worst still, to organise an event of such
magnitude and posture in such a country, undermining the solidarity
appeals of the suffering people in the occupied territory.
COSATU National Office Bearers discussed the coming IC meeting in full
recognition of its importance, guided by the federation’s principle of
solidarity and consistency in adhering to its resolutions and policies,
where they decided that it would be morally wrong, politically
opportunistic and an act of daylight betrayal to the cause of justice
and solidarity with our comrades, the suffering people of Western
Sahara, to participate in an event that might be used to legitimise Morocco.
We call upon all progressive people of the world to respond positively
to the call by the Saharawi people for solidarity and to isolate Morocco
until Morocco withdraws from all occupied territories for a lasting and
just settlement.
COSATU has written to social movements of Western Sahara including those
in exile and underground informing them of its decision not to attend
both the WSF IC as well as the African Social Forum Council scheduled
for Morocco. COSATU will at first opportunity either at the Liaison
Group meeting or International Council raise the importance of
developing guidelines for the hosting of international council meetings
to avoid this being dictated by those with financial muscles.
In solidarity with the people of Palestine and Western Sahara.
Yours Comradely
Bheki Ntshalintshali
COSATU Deputy General Secretary
Bongani Masuku (International Relations Secretary)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets
Braamfontein, 2017
Johannesburg
P.O.Box 1019
Johannesburg, 2000
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24
Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940
Mobile: +27 79 499 6419
E-Mail: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:bongani@cosatu.org.za">bongani@cosatu.org.za</a>
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